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Chocolate Cake with Buttercream Frosting

My daughter just turned the big 10. To celebrate we had a wonderful outdoor party with a bird theme. This birds nest cake played the part, too.

For the past few years I have been using the same recipe whenever I make a chocolate cake, Sandy's Chocolate Cake. The taste appeals to a more mature taste as it has a bit of a sweet-tart taste. I wanted to use something that would certainly appeal to younger children but would be delicious, not just sweet.

This cake was terrific! Lots of chocolate and a great buttercream frosting. It used only brown sugar which added a subtly pleasant taste compared to other chocolate cakes I have made. The frosting was "just like bakery frosting" according to many taste buds.

I asked my oldest daughter if it looked like a bird's nest on top. Her response was, "It must be for one prolific bird!" There were quite a few eggs, but I thought it was beautiful. Maybe not as beautiful as the birthday girl though.

Directions for Cake
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease three round cake pans.
2. Combine the brown sugar and oil. Mix at low speed and add the eggs one at a time. Let the sugar, oil, and eggs mix while sifting together the flour, baking powder, soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Set this mixture aside.
3. In another small bowl, mix the vanilla into the milk and set this aside as well. Bring the water to a boil and pour over the cocoa and whisk it until it is smooth. 4. To the egg mixture, alternately add the flour mixture and the milk mixture beginning and ending with flour. With the mixer off, scrape down the sides of the bowl after each addition. With the mixture at a low speed add the cocoa. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and pour this mixture into the prepared cake pans. Bake the cakes about 25 minutes or until tester comes out clean.
5. Allow cakes to cool for 15 minutes before removing from pans. When cake layers have cooled, remove from pans and refrigerate until ready to frost.Directions for Frosting
1. Place shortening and butter in mixing bowl. Beat at low speed, slowly increasing speed to medium high. Cream butter and shortening until light and creamy, about 8-10 minutes.
2. Add salt and vanilla. Blend. Add sugar, one cup at a time and mixing after each addition. Mix on low and slowly add whipping cream. Once well mixed, increase speed to medium high and beat for an additional 5 minutes till fluffy.

To make a bird's nest cake, simply toast 1 1/2 cups of coconut. Sprinkle in a round on the center of the cake. Add some pastel egg shaped candies such as almond M&M's. Garnish the bottom of the cake with remaining toasted coconut.